Apparatus and method for controlling a locomotive consist
First Claim
1. A locomotive assembly comprising:
- a locomotive comprising;
a throttle;
a power bus;
a primary power unit coupled to the power bus; and
a legacy locomotive controller coupled to an output of the throttle and programmed to transmit a control command to the primary power unit;
a traction motor electrically coupled to the primary power unit;
a traction blower positioned adjacent the traction motor; and
an intercept locomotive controller programmed to;
receive a control signal indicating a requested amount of locomotive power from the legacy locomotive controller;
allocate a portion of the requested amount of locomotive power to an auxiliary power unit;
control the auxiliary power unit to deliver the portion of the amount of locomotive power to the power bus;
intercept a traction blower command signal transmitted from the locomotive controller to the traction blower;
modify the traction blower command signal; and
transmit the modified traction blower command signal to the traction blower.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A locomotive assembly including a legacy locomotive controller and an intercept locomotive controller and a method of controlling a locomotive are disclosed. The locomotive assembly includes a locomotive having a power bus, a primary power unit coupled to the power bus, and a legacy locomotive controller programmed to transmit control signals to the primary power unit. The locomotive assembly further includes an intercept locomotive controller programmed to receive a control signal indicating an requested amount of locomotive power from the legacy locomotive controller, allocate a portion of the requested amount of locomotive power to an auxiliary power unit, and control the auxiliary power unit to deliver the portion of the amount of locomotive power to the power bus.
50 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A locomotive assembly comprising:
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a locomotive comprising; a throttle; a power bus; a primary power unit coupled to the power bus; and a legacy locomotive controller coupled to an output of the throttle and programmed to transmit a control command to the primary power unit; a traction motor electrically coupled to the primary power unit; a traction blower positioned adjacent the traction motor; and an intercept locomotive controller programmed to; receive a control signal indicating a requested amount of locomotive power from the legacy locomotive controller; allocate a portion of the requested amount of locomotive power to an auxiliary power unit; control the auxiliary power unit to deliver the portion of the amount of locomotive power to the power bus; intercept a traction blower command signal transmitted from the locomotive controller to the traction blower; modify the traction blower command signal; and transmit the modified traction blower command signal to the traction blower. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of controlling a locomotive comprising:
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relaying a control signal from a legacy locomotive controller to an intercept locomotive controller, the control signal comprising an encoded request for a locomotive power setting; determining a desired power output corresponding to the locomotive power setting; allocating a first portion of the desired power output to an auxiliary power source; transmitting an auxiliary command signal from the intercept locomotive controller to the auxiliary power source; causing the auxiliary power source to supply the first portion of the desired power output to a locomotive bus on the locomotive based on the transmitted auxiliary command signal; allocating a second portion of the desired power output to a legacy engine/generator set coupled to the legacy locomotive controller; generating a synthesized control signal comprising an encoded request for a locomotive power setting corresponding the second portion of the desired power output; transmitting the synthesized control signal from the intercept locomotive controller to the legacy locomotive controller; intercepting an initial blower motor setting transmitted from the legacy locomotive controller to a traction blower motor of the locomotive; determining a modified traction blower motor setting based on the desired power output; and transmitting the modified blower motor setting from the intercept locomotive controller to the traction blower motor. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A retrofit kit for a locomotive comprising:
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a first control interface electrically coupleable to a legacy locomotive controller on the locomotive, the legacy locomotive controller coupled to an output of a throttle and programmed to transmit a control command to a primary power source of the locomotive; an auxiliary power unit assembly comprising; an auxiliary power source; an auxiliary controller programmed to control the auxiliary power source; a power cable coupleable to a power bus of the locomotive; and a second control interface electrically coupled to the auxiliary controller; and an intercept locomotive controller electrically coupled to the first and second control interfaces, wherein the intercept locomotive controller is programmed to; interpret a signal received on the first control interface as a request for locomotive power; define an auxiliary power command based on the request for locomotive power; transmit the auxiliary power command to the auxiliary power unit assembly via the second control interface; intercept a blower motor command transmitted by the legacy locomotive controller; generate a modified blower motor command; and transmit the modified blower motor command to a blower motor of the locomotive. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A locomotive assembly comprising:
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a locomotive comprising; a power bus; a primary power unit coupled to the power bus; and a legacy locomotive controller programmed to transmit a control command to the primary power unit; a first sensor coupled to the power bus; a second sensor coupled to the primary power unit; and an intercept locomotive controller programmed to; receive a control signal indicating an requested amount of locomotive power from the legacy locomotive controller; allocate a portion of the requested amount of locomotive power to an auxiliary power unit; control the auxiliary power unit to deliver the portion of the amount of locomotive power to the power bus; intercept sensor signals transmitted from the first sensor and the second sensor to the legacy locomotive controller; modify the sensor signals; and transmit the modified sensor signals to the legacy locomotive controller. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A locomotive assembly comprising:
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a locomotive comprising; a power bus; a primary power unit coupled to the power bus; and a legacy locomotive controller that generates an alternator excitation signal corresponding to a requested amount of locomotive power; and an intercept locomotive controller programmed to; receive the alternator excitation signal from the legacy locomotive controller; allocate a portion of the requested amount of locomotive power to an auxiliary power unit; and control the auxiliary power unit to deliver the portion of the amount of locomotive power to the power bus intercept a blower motor command transmitted by the legacy locomotive controller; generate a modified blower motor command; and transmit the modified blower motor command to a blower motor of the locomotive.
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35. A retrofit kit for a locomotive comprising:
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a first control interface electrically coupleable to a legacy locomotive controller on the locomotive, the legacy locomotive controller coupled to an output of a throttle and programmed to transmit a control command to a primary power source of the locomotive; an auxiliary power unit assembly comprising; an auxiliary power source; an auxiliary controller programmed to control the auxiliary power source; a power cable coupleable to a power bus of the locomotive; and a second control interface electrically coupled to the auxiliary controller; a first sensor interface electrically coupleable to the legacy locomotive controller; and a second sensor interface electrically coupleable to at least one locomotive sensor; and an intercept locomotive controller electrically coupled to the first and second control interfaces and the first and second sensor interfaces, wherein the intercept locomotive controller is programmed to; interpret a signal received on the first control interface as a request for locomotive power; define an auxiliary power command based on the request for locomotive power; transmit the auxiliary power command to the auxiliary power unit assembly via the second control interface; intercept a sensor signal transmitted from the at least one locomotive sensor via the second sensor interface; modify the sensor signal to reflect an expected sensor signal based on the request for locomotive power; and transmit the modified sensor signal to the legacy locomotive controller via the first sensor interface. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37)
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Specification